Link Centre Dictionary

parenchyma

pa·renc·hyma

UK/pəˈɹɛŋ.kɪm.ə/ fairly common

noun

1.

animal tissue that constitutes the essential part of an organ as contrasted with e.g. connective tissue and blood vessels

2.

the primary tissue of higher plants composed of thin-walled cells that remain capable of cell division even when mature; constitutes the greater part of leaves, roots, the pulp of fruits, and the pith of stems

Origin

From Ancient Greek παρέγχῠμα (parénkhŭma, “anything poured in beside”), from πᾰρᾰ- (pără-, “beside”) + ἔγχῠμα (énkhŭma, “instillation, content of a vessel”), given by the Greek anatomist Erasistratus to the peculiar substance of the lungs, liver, kidneys, and spleen, as if formed separately by the veins that run into them. By surface analysis, para- + -enchyma.

Phrases

  • palisade parenchyma
  • wood parenchyma

Related words

Broader terms

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Parts

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.